The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-12-31
A rALE OF THE ORIENT.
BY ALRx. SWEET.

A certain king of Persia, whose name lpretor not to mention, so as not to wound the feelings ot any of his relatives, was very old and peevish, He WAS as full of whims as shad Is of bones,
 This aged and almost obsolete mon- arch, as Is still the custom In oriental countries, kcpt at his court an astrol- oger, who was an expert at predicting what was going to happen. Almost anybody could predict coming event |, but to have the prediction verified by the subsequent occurrence requires a high order of genius and commands a high price.
 The king did not love his astrolo- ger because the former did not care to have it said that there was somebody in Persia smarter than himself, The king often undertook to prevent the predictions of tho astologer from coming true. but the astroleger was such an experienced hand at horo- scopes and such like, that the king slipped up every time, which made him as vicious as Jim Blaine after the vote was counted.
 After lying awake several nights tho king studied out a littie scheme that would be sure to floor the astrol- oger, Next morning he ordered the magician to be summoned. The ma gician appeared. The king was seated on his throne in his best Sunday suit, wearing beautiful dia,icm studded with the gems of tho orient. By his side stood beautiful young girl, Whether or not she woro tho baby hang and the Langtry hustle, which are all the rage Just now, the historian does not state Presumably she was dressed in the height of the fashion. But to resume.
 "Now, Mir, Magician, want to see If 1t k really fact that you can see further through grindstone than the next man." said the king, with n sheer.
 "Propel, your majesty" replied the astrsloger, with an oriental sdlddm,
 "You seq this young person at my side. have raised her from the hum. ble position of shop girl to bc my queen. Now, l want you to tell me when, and of what disease, she will die. II you miss IL I'll hove your scalp on shinglc before you know it."
 "Oh, pshaw! Gimme something hard. Anybody can giicss that co. nundrum,' replied the horoseopist
 "Ill bet you one thousand dollars To nickel, and I'll put up the money, that you can't accurately predict the time of her death or the disease she will die of"
 "Pll go you ten better"
 "I call you now show your hand. !"
 "As to her disease" replied the as- trologer, "l predict that she will die of the weakness of old age"
 The old king drew his dagger and plunged 1t fatally several times Co the hilt in the heart of the girl. Holding aloft the rocking dagger, the old fool exclaimed
 "Pve won. She did not die as you predicted. You have lost, and I'll have your hide on the fence before night"
 "l beg to differ with your majesty, l have won, and you will oblige mc by giving me cheek far the amount '
 "W hat are you giving us, caitih?"
 "I mean that she died precisely as l predicted. ] said that she would die from the weakness of old age, and so she has. Her death was caused by the weakness of old age, of your old age"
 The king was 80 much disgusted that he declared the meeting adjourned sine die, and soon afterwards he was inserted in A silent tomb. --- New Fork Mercury.